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On Deck: They Were Once Friends

Posted Jul 5th 2008 12:40PM by Mullet
Filed under: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Red Sox, Yankees, Blue Jays, Angels, Cubs, Cardinals, St. Louis, Toronto

On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups.

Chicago Cubs (52-35) at St. Louis Cardinals (49-39) - 3:55 PM ET

It's sad to see a friendship go south as apparently the one between Tony La Russa and Jim Edmonds has now that Edmonds is with the Cubs and La Russa is playing ultra-sensitive. But in reality, La Russa and Edmonds are mere players in the larger war that is Cubs vs. Cardinals, with first place on the line and growing ever so further away from the Cardinals. Today, Kyle Lohse is going to have to continue his 2008 magic (remember when nobody wanted Lohse? Yeah, well now he's 10-2) against Ted Lilly.

Continue Reading On Deck: They Were Once Friends

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Kobe Bryant's Youth Basketball Camp

Posted Jul 4th 2008 3:00PM by Elie Seckbach
Filed under: Lakers, NBA Videos, Los Angeles, The Word, FanHouse TV, USA Basketball

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded NBA Correspondent, brings his exclusive NBA reporting to FanHouse. Check back here regularly for more videos.

In this video we visit the basketball camp of NBA MVP Kobe Bryant. Kobe tells which NBA stars he met as a child and why he enjoyed those moments. Around 2:30 into the video we ask Kobe about the MMA style of basketball he will face in the upcoming Olympics.

Youtube link.

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Andrew Bynum Cleared to Condition, Lakers Fans Begin Printing 2009 Championship Shirts

Posted Jul 4th 2008 3:21AM by Matt Moore
Filed under: Lakers, Western, NBA Injuries, Los Angeles

Several months after he was expected to be back to full speed, starting for the Lakers, Andrew Bynum has been cleared for conditioning. According to a report in the OC Register, Bynum is officially on track for his comeback. He's staying in New York two more weeks working on rehab, then heading down to Atlanta to train.

After every open field goal the Lakers allowed under the basket in the playoffs, and there were many, many of those, Lakers fans would note that the problem would be fixed next year with the return of Bynum beside Gasol and Odom. Getting Bynum clear of any complications with the knee well before training camp is a positive step in that direction. If the Lakers are going to bounce back from a fairly humiliating Finals, they need Bynum to be the unstoppable force in the middle that prevents easy baskets, lets Pau Gasol drift around the elbows, and does that whole rebounding thing the Lakers have so much trouble with.

Coming back from knee surgery has never been considered easy, but with the advances in medicine over the last ten years, it's easier than it ever has been. And if Bynum can manage to come back full strength, the Lakers will boost an already formidable position as the favorite to win the 2008-2009 NBA title.

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Furcal to Miss Eight More Weeks Following Back Surgery

Posted Jul 3rd 2008 1:30AM by Will Brinson
Filed under: Los Angeles, Dodgers, NL West, MLB Injuries, MLB Rumors, Injury Report, Fantasy MLB

The injuries seemed like they were maybe, possibly, kind of taking a turn for the better for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Then they got the brutal news early Thursday that leadoff hitter and sparkplug of the offense Rafael Furcal will miss another eight weeks after undergoing back surgery.

Manager Joe Torre would not concede that Furcal will be lost for the rest of the season, but neither did he say he's holding his breath awaiting Furcal's return.

"From all the numbers I've heard, he'll probably miss a minimum of eight weeks," said Torre, meaning a return of September at the earliest.

That's probably overly optimistic. Watkins performed a similar procedure in 2002 on Dodgers pitcher Kevin Brown, whose disc was badly ruptured. Brown rushed back after two months, but quickly had to shut it down because he was not fully healed. Reliever Eric Gagne underwent a similar operation by Watkins at St. Vincent's Hospital on July 8, 2006. Like Brown, Gagne was also trying to return from elbow woes at the time and did not pitch again that season.

Like I mentioned the other day (link above), I'll believe it when I see it regarding recovery. Eight weeks is still a looooong time anyway and the odds that Furcal will be completely healthy by the beginning of September is possible but as soon as KB and EG's names get tossed around, I get a little skeptical.

And no, the "would not concede" line does not help anything either.

Fantasy Spin: I'm heading to drop him in a 12 team league right now (non-keeper) and grab someone that can help me now. Bear in mind though, that this is a head-to-head league, so not only will I be able to grab him later, but the loss of steals isn't permanent, so to speak. Still, I think he's done.

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Clayton Kershaw Is Not Particularly Thrilled About Returning to the Minors

Posted Jul 3rd 2008 1:15AM by Will Brinson
Filed under: Los Angeles, Dodgers, NL West, MLB Transactions, Fantasy MLB

It would be hard to blame uber-prospect Clayton Kershaw for getting upset at his demotion back to the minor leagues; he has pitched well thus far, despite not getting any run support from the Dodgers. I actually watched him last night and the 12-6 he froze Hunter Pence on in the fifth after dialing up 96 the pitch before was a perfect example of his potential to dominate.

But the Dodgers have more than just watching a youngster unleash nasty deuce-balls, and he understands that.

It's disappointing, but it's a business," he said. "I'm going to Jacksonville to keep pitching like I'm supposed to. I didn't expect it. Right now, I'm just disappointed."

Well, of course he's disappointed. (So am I, for the record.) Kershaw has pitched very well at times, while at others looking very much like a rookie, but what did the Dodgers expect? The biggest issue with PE#1 was his control: he only walked one or less batters once, during his first start of the season.

Additionally, tossing under a fairly rigid pitch count didn't help matters, as Kershaw never got to really extend past 90 pitches, much less five innings. His last start was arguably his best of the season but LA still couldn't hold on for the win and Clayton remains 0-2 so far in his MLB career.

Fantasy Spin: He's still a virtual lock to land back in the majors at some point, it's just a matter of where the Dodgers are in the pennant race when they decide to bring him back up. Also, if injuries continue to strike, there's a good chance he won't stay in Jacksonville that long. He's a must have in keeper leagues, but seasonal leagues, particularly smaller ones, can drop him and just keep an eye out.

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Chris Kaman Bin Ein Berliner (Or, Dirk Has a Friend in Beijing)

Posted Jul 2nd 2008 5:25PM by Tom Ziller
Filed under: Clippers, Los Angeles, FIBA, Beijing, Europe

A throwaway comment from Chris Kaman months ago, in which the Clipper revealed his great-grandparents were German immigrants, has spiraled out of control. Ball in Europe reports Kaman will join Dirk Nowitzki and the German national team for this month's Olympic qualifying tournament and -- hopefully -- the Beijing Olympics.

Kaman received an expedited German passport, which allows him to compete ASAP. The Germans need the help, too: in the qualifying tournament, they share a group (the toughest) with Greece (the 2005 European champs), Slovenia (Rasho! Sasha!) and Croatia ... and need to finish in the top two just to finish to the elimination round, of which only three of the six remaining teams gets a crack at Beijing.

Other threats to a Kaman-Nowitzki appearance in Beijing include Brazil (a virtual lock to qualify, even without Leandro Barbosa) and Samuel Dalembert's Canadian squad.

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Kelvim Escobar Is Likely Done for the Season

Posted Jul 2nd 2008 1:41PM by Tom Fornelli
Filed under: Los Angeles, Angels, AL West, MLB Injuries, MLB Rumors

As is often the case this time of year, the Los Angeles Angels have been toying with the idea of adding another bat to their anemic offense for the stretch run. General manager Tony Reagins has come out and said that he's happy with the team he currently has, but that doesn't mean he'd turn down the right offer if it was presented to him.

The general consensus being that since the Angels have a surplus in starting pitching, they could move an arm or two to bring a bat like Mark Teixeira in. The thought process was that once Kelvim Escobar returned to the rotation, the Angels would have more than enough pitching.

There's been a wrench thrown in the plans, though, because it doesn't look like Escobar is going to be coming back this season.

After suffering a serious setback in his rehabilitation from a shoulder tear, it appears doubtful the 32-year-old right-hander will pitch at all for the Angels this season.

"I woke up [Tuesday] and it was like, wow, it's painful," said Escobar, who threw three innings for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga on Monday night. "It's not the normal soreness you feel after you pitch. It's pain. It's hurt. And it's in the same spot."

Escobar chose to skip any surgery and just rehab the injury back in the spring, but he's likely to undergo an MRI on his shoulder again today. Considering the pain he's still feeling, I don't think anything on the MRI is going to come back very positive, and I wouldn't be surprised if he finally chooses the surgery option this time around. Doing so would obviously end his season.

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Homer Simpson Throws Out First Pitch, Dares to Live Out American Dream

Posted Jul 2nd 2008 11:30AM by Will Brinson
Filed under: Los Angeles, Dodgers, NL West, MLB Fans, MLB Video, MLB Biz

Oh wait. Wrong American dream. The lesson though, kids, is that sporting events aren't about whether you win or lose, it's how drunk you can get. No, wait. There's some sort of moral lesson here, right? Or maybe not.

Just watch Homer throw out the first pitch as the Dodgers ~~shill for Universal Studios~~ try to generate a family atmosphere at a recent home game.

All jokes and ill-fitting Simpsons quotes aside, that was a pretty good freaking throw by El Homo. Certainly better than anything Carl Lewis has ever served up. And also, I find it fascinating that the Matt Groening's little world has evolved to the point that it's a nationally beloved iconic item, and no longer some d/f joke routine of which parents are terrified. Next up? South Park!

One case of Duff to Home Run Derby for the find.

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Mama, Baron Davis Is Coming Hoooooome

Posted Jul 2nd 2008 10:45AM by Will Brinson
Filed under: Clippers, Western, NBA Fans, NBA Videos, Los Angeles

Normally, someone busting out an acoustic guitar and recording anything for YouTube is the best tasting recipe for disaster you can possibly find. But the Clippers fan below is clearly the reason why Baron Davis bolted Oak-town and is headed back to Los Angeles. "Baron, It's Time to Come Home", your next bloggy internet sensation.

I'm impressed. Dude has dece guitar skills and better than solid lyrical prowess. Sure, it's not as good as the obvious "Mama, I'm Comin' Home" acoustic rip off that Ryan Parker will do, but whatever. I back.

Via Hotclicks

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Baron Davis Made a Grown-Man Decision

Posted Jul 1st 2008 10:33PM by Tom Ziller
Filed under: Warriors, Clippers, NBA Media Watch, Los Angeles, Oakland

When Baron Davis opted out of his $17.8 million contract, plenty of pundits ripped him. One opinion piece which stood out was a column headlined "Davis 29, going on 39, with maturity of 3-year-old" by Bob Padecky of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. Padecky writes:

Davis is a 29-year-old man with a 39-year-old body and a 3-year old's conception of commitment. One minute he says he wants to stay with the Warriors. The next minute he wants to leave them. Stay. Go. Stay. Go. He is a toddler who can't make up his mind.

Davis had two options: $17.8 million right now, or $13 million right now and another $52 million over the subsequent four years. The latter opportunity only came available once Elton Brand made his decision late Monday. When presented with the secure, more lucrative opportunity, Davis took it. That involved opting out of a contract he had indicated he would not opt out of. He did, however, still hold the rights to opt out of said contract.

On what planet is that not a mature, rational decision?

The irrational, immature, short-sighted option would have been to hold steady with the Warriors because of some perceived obligation to a corporation who offered a much smaller contract than the market would bear. Why exactly should Davis have felt obligated to accepted a smaller deal, like the $10 million/year with incentives for health Padecky offers up? Why should Davis give up $47 million in guaranteed monies to fulfill Warriors fans visions of 2008-09 when the Warriors won't belly up to the table?

That the guy is making tens of millions of dollars is no reason to insist he conform to some socialist perspective of corporate loyalty. The NBA's a business, and Davis made a smart business decision. (Whether the Clippers did the same can be debated.) It's simply ridiculous to hold athletes to puritanical financial ideals we'd never live to up to ourselves.

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